Perfect Day
Lou Reed Lyrics
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Drink Sangria in the park
And then later
When it gets dark, we go home
Just a perfect day
Feed animals in the zoo
Then later
A movie, too, and then home
Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on
Just a perfect day
Problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
It's such fun
Just a perfect day
You made me forget myself
I thought I was
Someone else, someone good
Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
Lou Reed's song "Perfect Day" is a deeply introspective piece, with the lyrics cataloging a series of mundane activities that ultimately add up to the titular perfect day. At the same time, however, there is an underlying sense of melancholy and even foreboding to the lyrics, as the repeated refrain of "You just keep me hanging on" suggests that the perfect day may be fleeting at best. The first verse sets the scene with a suggestion of leisure and luxury, as the singer drinks sangria in the park and then goes home after dark. The second verse is similarly laid-back, as the singer feeds animals in the zoo and then goes to a movie, presumably with a romantic partner. The third verse hints at the possibility of trouble or stress in the singer's life, but dismisses it as he revels in the enjoyment of being on his own for the weekend. The final verse is the most ambiguous, as the phrase "You made me forget myself / I thought I was / Someone else, someone good" suggests both a sense of liberation and a loss of identity. The repeated refrain of "You just keep me hanging on" throughout the song reinforces this ambiguity, hinting at both pleasure and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a perfect day
The day is perfect in every way
Drink Sangria in the park
Having a drink in an open park under the sun
And then later
After spending some time in the park
When it gets dark, we go home
Heading home after sunset
Feed animals in the zoo
Having a fun time feeding animals in the zoo
A movie, too, and then home
Watching a movie and then heading home
Oh, it's such a perfect day
Reiterating that the day is perfect
I'm glad I spent it with you
Happy to spend it with a special person
You just keep me hanging on
The person is holding on to the artist in a positive way
Problems all left alone
No issues or difficulties to handle in that moment
Weekenders on our own
Enjoying the weekend with no other obligations
It's such fun
Having fun just being with the person
You made me forget myself
The person helped the singer forget their own worries or stress
I thought I was
At that moment
Someone else, someone good
Feeling like a better version of oneself
You're going to reap just what you sow
A warning that one will face consequences for their actions
You're going to reap just what you sow
Reiteration of the previous warning
You're going to reap just what you sow
Final repetition of the warning
You're going to reap just what you sow
Final warning about facing consequences for actions
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ROBERIOPIZZA
Just a perfect day
Drink sangria in the park
And then later, when it gets dark
We go home
Just a perfect day
Feed animals in the zoo
Then later a movie, too
And then home
Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on
Just a perfect day
Problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
It's such fun
Just a perfect day
You made me forget myself
I thought I was someone else
Someone good
Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
@RiverRat_1977
@barneyhansford411 Ronno composed, arranged (orchestrated), and conducted all of the piano and string parts, as well as playing that entire, lovely, and melancholic piano masterpiece that frames the entire song… Bowie only wrote most of the the lyrics and outlined some basic chords that Ronson filled in… not only with the full layout of the song, but he wrote the sheet music as well, which includes arranging all of the individual instruments, with their separate compositions within the song…
Ronno also knew how to arrange the placement of all the different instruments in the studio for the proper balance of sound since he was a professionally trained musician, composer, and instrumental arranger (he also played the violin and mandolin). Ronno contributed to the lyrics as well according to Angie B!! Mick also did this to most of the other songs on the album, and only for a few bucks… thinking he was doing a favor for a friend and would be looked after and treated as an equal… but Bowie knew how to take advantage of him (just like he did to the Spiders…)
Ronno also engineered most of the entire album (and parts of others), yet his name doesn’t show up on one credit since Bowie claimed them all for his own greedy narcissistic self!! Ronno gave Bowie his image during the Spiders from Mars period!! So without Mick Ronson David Bowie wouldn’t have received all the the attention and accolades he got… which were mostly due to Ronno… who (along with the other Spiders) was unceremoniously fired like a day labourer!!
The D.A. Pennebaker movie shows everything Ronno did to encourage Bowie, and Bowie always played with him side by side as equal frontmen, when Ronno was the whole package behind the scenes!! Sometimes when I hear this song it angers me that Ronno didn’t get the credits, royalties, and the professional respect he deserved from Bowie. So whenever I hear this song (especially in Trainspotting) I think of Mick Ronson as the real mastermind behind the scenes!! (Brian Eno would never let Bowie take advantage of him, especially in such a disrespectful way)!!
Bowie was just a leach!! He didn’t even visit his ‘friend’ and former partner when he was dying of cancer and begging friends for small jobs to keep a roof over his family’s head!! It’s a shame he was so disrespected by Bowie, as Ronno should’ve been one of the great composers and arrangers like John Williams, John Barry, Michael Kamen, etc. But Bowie deliberately held Ronno back and also wouldn’t let other people in his organization tell Ronno how much of an asset he was and what he really deserved and the position he held in creating David Bowie’s image and career!!
The documentary “Beside Bowie” brings everything into the light, only it wasn’t made until after Mick had passed away (Ian Hunter was there helping to take care of his mate and make sure he had an income)! David Bowie didn’t even attend Ronno’s funeral, nor contribute a single penny to support Mick’s family and the monument they felt he deserved as recognition for his musical contributions that brought an element of fame to the small eastern seaside town of Kingston upon Hull in the County of Yorkshire in Northern England!
@curlyfm
I love how that song is so positive yet there is undertones of misery.
A perfect reflection of life. Reap just what you sow.
Positive outlook, and attitude - good things are abound.
Negative outlook - bad things await.
You are the master of your own destiny
@nutbastard
It doesn't matter, but I had a perfect day today. It wouldn't be notable but I can't remember the last time I had one. Today was one.
I wrote a whole long post about why today was perfect but it was a bit too self indulgent. Suffice to say, my last year and change has been astronomically shitty. I'm pretty sure I saved my relationship with the love of my life today.
It can happen, no matter how shit your life is. Every once in a while, you get a perfect day.
Step 1: Show up
Step 2 is up to you.
UPDATE: I did not in fact save my relationship. She's gone. I ruined it. I guess I reap just what I sow.
@holipinieo1
It's so strange how a song called "Perfect Day" is one that I find myself wanting to listen to when my day is everything but perfect.
@joseph78355
False hope. The emotional and mental maggot.
@a.bourne6386
exactly
@jimbee01028
what other kind of hope is there???
@annagodel951
Omg same
@kyleashcraft86
Its about a perfect day of doin heroin in central park in NYC
@SuperDevolution
"You made me forget myself. I thought I was someone else, someone good" might be the most relatable lyric in history.
@igotthepowers
Good point, really fucking brilliant. And so relatable!
@adrianramsey1369
It hit home
@ferdinandreinheimer1080
oh yeah, that's the undisputed truth !